CHAPTER 6

KYLE

19 Days 'til Christmas Eve

Julia's already at the florist's window when I pull up, arms crossed and foot tapping like she's about to burn a hole in the ground. She spots me and glances at her watch, like we're on the clock for some royal event.

"Glad you could make it," she says sarcastically. "Did you get lost?"

"Or maybe I just had better things to do," I retort, faking a smile and shrugging as I lock the car. Truthfully, I'd already given myself a pep talk to deal with Julia and her high standards.

She just rolls her eyes and strides toward the shop entrance. "Come on."

The shop's warm air and floral scents hit me as we enter, like a greenhouse drenched in pot-pourri. The florist, a petite woman with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader, greets us and leads us to a display table with dozens of arrangements. Julia's eyes gleam at the abundance of arrangements. How much a person can really say about flowers, though?

"Roses," I suggest, picking up a white rose. "These are both elegant and timeless."

Julia groans. "Kyle, this isn't a corporate event. It should be magical, maybe even a little mystery. Roses simply won't cut it."

"Roses are magic," I argue. "They're simple, not this-" I wave vaguely at vases filled with an array of colours and sizes "-flower explosion thing you're aiming for."

She raises an eyebrow. "It should be unique and wintery, not so much 'timeless.' What about lilies?" She gestures toward an arrangement of white lilies. "They're graceful, elegant, tall."

"Lilies are fine, I guess," I admit reluctantly, "but they're a bit... flashy, don't you think?"

"Flashy? Lilies are practically royalty in the flower world. But if you think they're too 'showy,' what would you suggest?"

"White peonies," I say, smirking. "Traditional, and not over the top."

She rolls her eyes again. "Peonies? This is a winter wedding, Kyle, not a garden party."

I shrug. "They're subtle, clean-kind of like that classic snow-covered look Penny wanted." Truthfully, I don't really know what I'm aiming for, but I'm trying to strike a balance between something nice and... well, not insane.

Back and forth, we toss around different ideas like ranunculus and tulips-both of which she vetoes, along with my admittedly off-the-mark poinsettia suggestion. She vetoes it so hard I can practically feel her glare burning through me. Her Christmas magic apparently has limits.

The florist smiles at our bickering, clearing her throat. "You know, if you're leaning toward ranunculus, we carry a beautiful silk version. It's perfect if you're looking for something that'll last as a keepsake."

Julia frowns. "I don't know. Silk flowers can feel a bit... impersonal. Trashy even."

"Ah, so now we're being practical?" I jump at the chance to poke fun. She glares back but eventually relents.

"Fine. Let's take a look. But just so we can say we considered all of our options."

The florist leads us to a separate display off in one corner. These flowers look so realistic, even I'm impressed. Their soft, layered petals have a certain quality that's that piques my interest. Watching Julia to see her thoughts, she picks one up, running her fingers over the petals.

"These are really nice," she says in disbelief. "And Penny could keep it after the wedding."

"Yeah," I say, nodding. "For once, I think we're on the same page."

Julia glances up at me, and something like amusement flickers in her eyes. "Mark the date, Kyle. It's a Christmas miracle."

We move on to discuss table arrangements, agreeing on something understated. A smaller, matching arrangement of white ranunculus with eucalyptus and some soft greenery. Julia's wide grin is telling, and I know she's as relieved as I am that we're not coming to blows over table centrepieces.

Outside, the crisp December air slaps me back to reality. Sure we agreed on this, but I doubt it will last. Julia turns to me with a serious expression.

"About the caterer," she hesitates. "We need to decide soon. If we don't book something, everything's going to be taken. It's Christmas wedding season, after all."

I sigh, knowing she's right. "Alright, would you like have lunch with me at the Italian place. It's right down the road, and maybe trying it a second time will help us make a final decision."

She pulls her brows together and narrows her eyes for a moment. I suspect she's trying to read me, and my intentions. But she relents. "Fine, but if we aren't set on this after lunch, we can go with the first caterer?"

"Sure," I reply. She juts her hand out, gesturing to shake on the deal. I take her hand and shake it.

The walk over is short, and within minutes we're at the restaurant. The heady smell of garlic, basil, and baked bread wafts around the place as we're seated by the staff. Julia flops into the chair, but she seems preoccupied somehow.

"We've got the venue, the flowers, and maybe the caterer," she says. "But there are still decorations, the cake, the music, and final guest lists-."

"Hey," I say, holding a hand up to stop her. "We're getting things done. We'll just tackle two things each day from here on out. Stick to the plan, and we'll make it work."

"Easy for you to say. I'm the one getting the anxious texts from Penny every time she has a new idea."

"And I'm getting the lectures from Chase. We're both in this, Julia." I shrug, smirking. "Think of it as a... team effort."

Julia lip curls and I know she's trying not to laugh, glancing down at her menu to hide her smile. "Alright, Mr. Team Player. Let's see if we can at least agree on this menu."

Lunch goes smoother than I expect, productive even. We settle on a menu with pastas, winter-themed appetisers, and a more filling main course. When the waiter takes down our choices, Julia and I exchange a look-no sarcasm, no bickering. Just a nod of agreement.

Back outside, the chill hits sharper now that the sun's slipping behind a few clouds. Julia lets out a sigh of relief, looking more relaxed than she's been since we started.

"So," she says, "what's next?"

"Decorations tomorrow?" I suggest, already bracing for her list of "essential" winter wonderland touches.

Her grin widens, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I hope you're ready for a glitter explosion, Scrooge."

Rolling my eyes, I feel a grudging smile tug at the corner of my mouth. There's a part of me that almost-almost-looks forward to it.

Once Julia's car disappears around the corner, I pull out my phone and see a new text from Chase waiting.

Chase: Are you free? Reno drama.

Me: Sure. On my way.

When I pull up at the renovation house, Chase is out front with a crowbar, working on what looks like the last bits of old siding. He tosses the crowbar aside when he sees me and grins.

"Wedding planning and flowers," he says, shaking his head. "You've really thrown yourself into the spirit, huh?"

I smirk, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Oh, I'm basically a floral expert now. You're welcome."

Chase laughs, then gestures toward the open front door. Inside, sawdust covers nearly every surface. We stop in the centre of what I think used to be the living room, surveying his handiwork.

"I'm thinking of opening up this wall," he says, tapping on the space dividing the kitchen from the living area. "Penny loves that open flow. Figured it'd make it feel... brighter."

I nod, already picturing it. "Smart. She'll love it. And the walls?"

He gestures toward a corner filled with paint samples, mostly shades of light grey and off-white. "Keeping it classic, but I thought the master could use something with a bit more depth-maybe dark green or blue?"

"Deep green's solid, but maybe even a teal could work. Adds contrast without going overboard." I nod toward the fixture samples on the counter. "You got a plan for those?"

He grins, clearly loving this as much as any other project. "Matte black. Adds a bit of edge without taking over. But I'm debating on brass accents in the kitchen for some contrast."

"I like the black. Brass would pop, but too much could look a bit too retro. Keep it subtle."

Chase laughs. "Good call." He studies the walls thoughtfully. "Penny deserves this, you know? A place that's hers-ours. A fresh start." He pauses, the weight of the unspoken words settling in, and looks over at me. "Thanks, man. Couldn't have tackled both the house and the wedding without you."

"No problem. You're giving her a real home, and a real husband. Least I can do is pull a few strings and play wedding planner for a month."

Chase glances around, a small grin pulling at his mouth. "Feels good, knowing she'll have it all?"

There's a pause, and I look around, taking it all in. The place really does feel like a new beginning-something Chase is pouring everything into. And I know I'm supposed to be happy for him, for them, but there's this tightness I can't shake. Maybe it's the reminder of what went wrong, or that somewhere deep down, I always thought that'd be me.

"You good, man?" Chase's voice pulls me back, his brow furrowing as he catches me staring.

I blink, shaking it off. "Yeah. Just thinking. I really hope she loves it."

He grins, clapping me on the shoulder. "She will."

And as I walk out, the feeling lingers, quiet and unrelenting-a question I'm not quite ready to answer.